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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. envoy George Mitchell meet in London on Wednesday.
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Last update - 22:45 26/08/2009
Netanyahu and Abbas both say ready for talks
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Mideast peace process 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said he was prepared to begin peace negotiations on every issue Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was interested in raising, but emphasized that he reserved the right to raise "core" issues of his own.

Earlier Wednesday, Abbas said he was willing to accept Netanyahu's invitation to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

"If Abu Mazen [Abbas] really means what he has said, then this is a positive development," Netanyahu said, briefing reporters after flying to Berlin from London. "I've been saying for quite some time that I am ready to renew negotiations."
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Netanyahu, who is on a four-day European tour, said he was open to discussing the future of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and permanent borders.

He added, however, that he would raise during negotiations Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and would demand that the Palestinians declare the conflict over once an agreement was signed.

"We have core issues of our own and the matter of declaring Israel a Jewish state is the root of the conflict," Netanyahu said.

A meeting at the UN would be the first between the two leaders since Netanyahu took office in March. Abbas has refused to reopen peace talks until Netanyahu halts all construction in West Bank settlements, an issue still up for discussion.

Palestinian officials said Wednesday that Abbas was not dropping his conditions. They termed a meeting at the UN a chance to talk, but stressed that it would not amount to negotiations.

Netanyahu met earlier Wednesday in London with U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell, where the two reported "progress" in preparations for peace negotiations. The prime minister said later, however, that "there was still work to be done."

Netanyahu and Mitchell failed to reach an agreement on West Bank settlements during their talks, but did concur on the need to renew direct peace talks with the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that Israel must be prepared to compromise for a two-state solution.

"We shouldn't let the window of opportunity pass," she said, ahead of her own talks with Netanyahu. "The time is absolutely right. Let us do everything to use it."

Netanyahu kicked off his two-day stay in Germany by meeting German President Horst Koehler at the head of state's official residence, and was to meet Merkel and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday.

Netanyahu and Mitchell report 'progress

In a joint message after the London talks, spokesmen for Netanyahu and Mitchell said the two agreed on the need to begin meaningful diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians with the aim of reaching a regional peace agreement.


The next round of talks between Israel and the U.S. was scheduled for the beginning of next week in Washington. Israel will be represented at those talks by the PM's special envoy Yitzhak Molcho and Defense Ministry chief of staff Mike Herzog, who both participated in Wednesday's meeting. The two will meet again with Mitchell to discuss again the U.S. demand that Israel implement a settlement freeze.

Prior to his meeting with Mitchell, Netanyahu said his government was making progress toward reopening talks with the Palestinians and hoped to be able to do so shortly.

"We are making headway. My government has taken steps both in words and deeds to move forward," he said.

Netanyahu has pledged not to build any new settlements but wanted to enable what he called "natural growth" of existing enclaves.

The prime minister, whose comments during a photo opportunity were relayed to reporters by his spokesman, expressed hope the two sides would "shortly be able to resume normal talks."

"The goal is a wider peace, which is our common goal," he said.


Meanwhile, the British Guardian reported that President Barack Obama is close to breaking the stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians by getting Israel to agree to a partial settlement freeze in exchange for a tougher U.S. stand against Iran's nuclear program.

The report, which cites U.S., European, Israeli and Palestinian officials, said that Obama will be ready to announce the resumption of long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of September.

"The message is: Iran is an existential threat to Israel; settlements are not," the Guardian quoted one official close to the negotiations as saying.

In exchange for Israel agreeing to a partial and temporary settlement freeze, the U.S., Britain and France would push the United Nations Security Council to expand sanctions on Iran to include its oil and gas industry, the report said.

Israel is also seeking normalization with Arab states, which would include the right for El Al to fly within Arab states' airspace, the establishment of trade offices and embassies and an end to the ban on travelers with Israeli stamps in their passports.

Poll: Most Israelis oppose settlement freeze

A poll released Wednesday in Israel showed freezing settlements would be an unpopular move. Almost two-thirds of those questioned told pollsters they opposed a freeze, even in return for moves by Arab countries toward
normalization of ties with Israel. Thirty-nine percent said they would support a freeze in return for Arab gestures.

Conducted by the Maagar Mohot polling company, the survey questioned 506
Jewish Israelis and had a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.

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      1.   let`s settle this issue 08:15  |  peter rouget 26/08/09
      2.   Iran and sanctions "swop" 08:43  |  DT 26/08/09
      3.   What an absurd linkage 08:58  |  Bruno 26/08/09
      4.   W.B. settlements and Iran. 09:14  |  GA 26/08/09
      5.   This sounds like extortion 09:25  |  KUTW 26/08/09
      6.   Iran`s nuclear and ballistic missiles ambitions 09:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/08/09
      7.   Big business! 09:34  |  KUTW 26/08/09
      8.   What nonsence! 09:35  |  Safta 26/08/09
      9.   What if Israel does not agree? 09:40  |  KUTW 26/08/09
      10.   #5, KUTW, "extorsion" 09:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/08/09
      11.   Another insult to intelligence 09:45  |  Bill Sender 26/08/09
      12.   The mouse that roared 09:58  |  r cummings 26/08/09
      13.   Settlements and Iran 10:04  |  Levi 26/08/09
      14.   Great Diversion Tactics 10:15  |  Marc Leb 26/08/09
      15.   This may not be true, The Guardian is not a serious newspaper. 10:17  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 26/08/09
      16.   Brinkmanship 10:18  |  Daniel Bernard 26/08/09
      17.   "The Arabs are more difficult to pin down" 10:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/08/09
      18.   settlements/nucléar bomb 10:28  |  Elia 26/08/09
      19.   that indeed is a very bad idee. 10:31  |  herman 26/08/09
      20.   I think I predicted that a few months ago, didn`t I...??? 10:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/08/09
      21.   Throw a Chapati to the Monkey 10:34  |  un2here 26/08/09
      22.   settlements 10:59  |  oz 26/08/09
      23.   Wait a minute #2 DT.If the sanctions do not work do you 11:00  |  Smart Beans 26/08/09
      24.   #5 Safta. G-d came to me last night.He said Thy credit is no good 11:08  |  His Son 26/08/09
      25.   Not helpful 11:08  |  Concerned Iranian 26/08/09
      26.   freeze settlements 11:26  |  Luca 26/08/09
      27.   Settlements Are Israel, Israel Is Settlements 11:28  |  Shmuel 26/08/09
      28.   Who is satisfied after this? 11:33  |  Hub 26/08/09
      29.   Obamas solution to bank robbery 11:43  |  Natallie Durson 26/08/09
      30.   Hahahahahahahahahahahah!!!! 12:04  |  Johnboy 26/08/09
      31.   #13 G-D gifts are forever! 12:37  |  safta 26/08/09
      32.   Of We`re Making Progress Towards Peace... 13:16  |  Dave 26/08/09
      33.   Justifying terrorism against Israel 13:17  |  KUTW 26/08/09
      34.   Johnboy, for once I`m not so sure 13:30  |  StephenL 26/08/09
      35.   CUMMINGS 13:39  |  second try 26/08/09
      36.   #27 Shmuel 13:51  |  BDS 26/08/09
      37.   KUTW right you are! 13:55  |  Petra 26/08/09
      38.   i hope 13:56  |  oz 26/08/09
      39.   Mitchell 15:48  |  fredyr 26/08/09
      40.   #15 Then hear what the Financial Times says 15:55  |  Keith T. 26/08/09
      41.   Netanyahu has got a nerve 16:08  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 26/08/09
      42.   Truth, Justice, Courage Make Good Leadership 16:11  |  Vladek 26/08/09
      43.   Of course this is extortion. 16:23  |  John 26/08/09
      44.   John - Israel is part of the region 17:02  |  The Educator 26/08/09
      45.   Advance the Left, Peace Now! 17:09  |  Daniel Garcia. 26/08/09
      46.   instead 17:47  |  udi 26/08/09
      47.   UN Meeting over brews? 17:51  |  The Wise Bard 26/08/09
      48.   Illegal Settlements 17:57  |  Palestinian Brit 26/08/09
      49.   46 CH: Settlements are legal 17:59  |  KUTW 26/08/09
      50.   Again the "British Guardian"? Laughable! 3rd try 18:01  |  S 26/08/09
      51.   Peace or Public Opinion Polls. What`s Important? 18:01  |  John Q. Public 26/08/09
      52.   wrong 18:06  |  shimi 26/08/09
      53.   The settlement issue 18:15  |  Lujean Cameron 26/08/09
      54.   Majority of Israelis support a freeze 18:15  |  Mark 26/08/09
      55.   This is an absurd Obama blackmail 18:56  |  Manugw 26/08/09
      56.   What will Abbas offer in return for a freeze. 18:57  |  Sarah 26/08/09
      57.   If The Poll Is Correct Any Negotiation Is Pointless 19:02  |  chet 26/08/09
      58.   KUTW what planet are you on? 19:40  |  Jake 26/08/09
      59.   Bruno - Israel policy greater threat to US 20:17  |  Don Boston 26/08/09
      60.   timeline for sanctions on Iran, Israel should be tied together 20:17  |  binny 26/08/09
      61.   to Germany: Israel HAS compromised. Time for Arabs to 20:21  |  David 26/08/09
      62.   Abbas should not start peace talk until there is a 20:37  |  Jaffar 26/08/09
      63.   Settlements are legal 20:37  |  KUTW 26/08/09
      64.   #41 - Abu Firas Al Qudsi forgets..... 20:50  |  Jason 26/08/09
      65.   Shmuel - Israel proper not settlement 20:52  |  Don Boston 26/08/09
      66.   Interesting coming from germany 20:54  |  Jennifer 26/08/09
      67.   #59 Israel is the greatest threat 20:56  |  Americafirster 26/08/09
      68.   # 63 kutw 21:04  |  Axel 26/08/09
      69.   Peace...or WHAT? 21:08  |  Bernd 26/08/09
      70.   Why not freeze Arab settlements? 21:19  |  KUTW 26/08/09
      71.   # 63 KUTW 21:29  |  AT 26/08/09
      72.   Israel vs the dark forces 21:37  |  Brod 26/08/09
      73.   Peace or Territories, Democracy or South Af: Israelis Must Choose 21:54  |  Dolphin 26/08/09
      74.   What are they going to talk about? Fatah?s new platform? 22:03  |  Mladen Andrijasevic 26/08/09
      75.   KUTW. Earth calling Mars! 22:31  |  Jake 26/08/09
      76.   #61 22:47  |  Matthew 26/08/09
      77.   U.S. Capitulation 22:49  |  Bill 26/08/09
      78.   Talks about talks about talks about talks, yawn 23:26  |  alan 26/08/09
      79.   #44 The Educator!!!!!!!!! 23:44  |  John 26/08/09
      80.   Johnboy # 30 You Must Have Missed Some Earlier Reports (2nd try) 00:05  |  Jeff Northridge 27/08/09
      81.   Netanyahu knew that he was going to have to freeze settlement 00:17  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/08/09
      82.   The two aren`t connected. 00:41  |  Petra 27/08/09
      83.   BOSTON The last attack on the US was effectively by Saudis 01:27  |  PETER SM 27/08/09
      84.   When The Palestinians Have Internationally-Recognized Borders... 01:34  |  Reader 27/08/09
      85.   #1 peter 01:54  |  vik 27/08/09
      86.   Wrong then, wrong now, Dino (#20) 01:55  |  Morris Valentine 27/08/09
      87.   to #* - safta 01:59  |  Miss America 27/08/09
      88.   Netanyahu ready but mohamedan PLO-PA play cat and mouse game . 02:02  |  Joseph .E 27/08/09
      89.   Ready for talks 02:08  |  Mark Lincoln 27/08/09
      90.   #48 Palestinian Brat 02:57  |  *BEN JABO 27/08/09
      91.   For starters, Abbas must promise to recognize Israel 02:58  |  *BEN JABO 27/08/09
      92.   #62 Jaffar, read the article again. 03:24  |  Johnboy 27/08/09
      93.   KUTW - settlements always illegal, even under Oslo 03:50  |  Don Boston 27/08/09
      94.   Good grief! 03:57  |  Nechama 27/08/09
      95.   #66 Would that be right, BEN JABO? 04:22  |  Johnboy 27/08/09
      96.   BOSTON UN does nothing of the kind,borders are NOT set 04:29  |  PETER SM 27/08/09
      97.   talks 07:47  |  G.L. 27/08/09
      98.   U.S. Capitulation 08:15  |  Bill 27/08/09
      99.   Johnboy, why so dishonest? 09:30  |  SDHD 27/08/09
      100.   For starters, give up the goal of annihilating Israel 09:52  |  KUTW 27/08/09
      101.   Normalisation in return fo a settlement freeze ? 15:46  |  Jack 27/08/09
      102.   Same Old, Same Old . . nothing new ! 15:47  |  Miguel Almela Perez 27/08/09
      103.   #63 KUTW Earth calling Mars! 16:25  |  Jake 27/08/09
      104.   So, let me get this straight... 17:17  |  American 27/08/09
      105.   Calling BS on Petra 17:41  |  American 27/08/09
      106.   Johnboy - Stop distorting the facts 17:44  |  *BEN JABO 27/08/09
      107.   Jake..#103..Re:KUTW 21:40  |  Malone 27/08/09
      108.   #106 KUTW and BEN doing a comedy act 06:44  |  Johnboy 28/08/09
      109.   Johnboy - Surprised you didn`t realize 20:19  |  *BEN JABO 28/08/09
      110.   David vs Goliath 01:17  |  sandra 29/08/09
      111.   Johnboy - Since you like to itemize, I`ll do likewise 02:22  |  *BEN JABO 29/08/09
      112.   #109 Oh, please, BEN, don`t make it worse for yourself. 03:25  |  Johnboy 29/08/09
      113.   JOhnboy - You can`t Please me when you distort facts 01:21  |  *BEN JABO 30/08/09
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